What are examples of coins to collect? Coin collecting is a fun and exciting hobby for kids and adults alike.
Coins are a tangible form of history; each has its own story. While collecting coins from your pocket or piggy bank might be tempting, there are plenty of reasons to consider looking elsewhere for your collection. Here are the top 10 coins to collect:
Top 10 Coins to Collect:
Sacagawea Dollars
The Sacagawea Dollar was the first coin to feature a woman.
The obverse design features Sacagawea and her child, with the eagle and mountain peak on the reverse.
This coin was released in 2000 and has only been struck in gold.
Morgan Dollars
Morgan Dollars were minted from 1878 to 1904.
They were designed by George T. Morgan, who created the obverse design of Lady Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap and holding an olive branch in her left hand and a torch with the word “Liberty” inscribed on it in her right hand.
The reverse featured an eagle perched on top of a mountain range with rays radiating behind it.
Morgan dollars were made up of 90% silver and 10% copper; they weighed 26.73 grams and measured 40 millimeters in diameter when first minted but later reduced to 38 millimeters due to the rising price of silver during their production (as much as 50% higher than when first minted).
They were produced at the Philadelphia Mint, San Francisco Mint, and New Orleans Mints until 1904.
Then, production ceased due to people hoarding coins for collectors or melting them down for their intrinsic value (90% silver).
Flying Eagle Cents
Flying Eagle Cents were minted from 1856 to 1858 and are the first American coins to have a portrait of a natural person on them.
In addition, they’re also the first American coins to have a design change from one year to the next (the reverse design was changed from “Shield & Rays” in 1857).
This is one of those areas where collectors can be creative: if you want your collection to represent only U.S. currency issued between 1776 and 1957, then all you need are Flying Eagle cents (and maybe some half-dollars).
But suppose you want your collection to be more representative of U.S. history (as I do).
In that case, there’s no harm in adding some other denominations as well—or even branching out into foreign currencies!
Indian Head Pennies
If you’re looking for a great coin to collect, Indian Head Pennies are a popular choice.
They were minted from 1859 to 1909 and are worth more than their face value because they’re considered a good beginner’s coin.
The design of Indian Head Pennies features an image of a Native American woman on the front side of the coin.
This was done in response to criticism that earlier coins depicted Native Americans as savages when they lived in harmony with nature.
The back depicts an eagle holding arrows and olive branches in its talons, symbolizing peace between nations.
Lincoln Cents with Major Mint Errors
A significant mint error is a coin that significantly deviates from its normal appearance.
The most common type of major mint error is when a blank die receives an extra impression, causing the same design to appear on both sides of the coin.
This can occur either during production or when replacing damaged dies.
Because these coins are not evenly balanced, they are often found with off-centered designs and other imperfections like color mismatches or missing elements (such as dates).
Kennedy Half Dollars
If you’re looking to get into coin collecting, the Kennedy Half Dollar is a great place to start.
It’s one of the most popular coins in our nation’s history since it was first minted in 1964. The 1965 Double Die Obverse (DDO) coin is the most valuable of these coins.
Unfortunately, the DDO has an error on its obverse face that produces a doubling effect on certain design parts.
Silver Quarters
Silver Quarters are a great coin to collect. They’re affordable, easy to find, and can be used as currency.
Silver quarters are beautiful coins that make excellent additions to your collection because of their size and silver value.
Since they were produced for so many years (1932-1964), there’s no shortage of them on the market today—you’ll be able to find these coins at most coin shops or online dealers.
Silver quarters are also relatively cheap compared with other precious metals like gold or platinum; therefore, it’s easy to add them to your collection without breaking the bank!
Silver Dimes
Silver dimes are a great coin to collect. They’re inexpensive, low-mintage, and easy to store.
These coins can be easily found online or in your local coin shop. Silver dimes were minted from 1794-1873 (when the U.S. Mint was shut down for economic reasons).
Silver dimes stayed popular with collectors through the late 19th century until silver became scarce due to its use in industry rather than as coinage after 1893.
Collecting silver dimes is not difficult because their value is so low compared to gold and even other silver bullion. Therefore, you can buy more for your money!
Buffalo Nickels
Buffalo nickels were minted from 1913 to 1938, so they’re still easy to find.
They’re also made of nickel and have a value of five cents. The coin was designed by James Earle Fraser, who modeled it after the Indian head nickel.
On one side of the Buffalo Nickel is an American buffalo (a bison), and on the other is an Indian chief’s profile with his hair tied up into a bun and feathers in his ears.
Mercury Dimes
The Mercury dime is one of the most affordable coins to collect. It has a rich history and has been minted since 1916-1945.
The silver content in this coin makes it an excellent investment and a beautiful piece of art.
This coin was minted from 1916-1945 and contained 90% silver, meaning that each Mercury Dime weighs about 2.5 grams.
They are easy to find at most banks or local retailers in North America because they were so popular during their period.
The design on these coins shows Liberty wearing a winged cap with an olive branch in her hand and wings on either side of her head, all surrounded by rays representing freedom from oppression!
Before you go…
We hope you have some ideas for what types of coins to collect. It’s important to remember that there are many coins, and no one type is better. If you want a challenge, try collecting ancient Roman coins! Or, if you’re more interested in something accessible and fun, why not start with American cents?
Check out my next article: “The Supreme Guide To Ancient Coins 101.”
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